Muncie Magazine December 2022

IVY TECH MUNCIE-HENRY COUNTY TO PROVIDE MACBOOKS & IPADS TO FACULTY & STUDENTS

updates and still works almost like the first day I bought it,” says Aaron Goodpastor, Associate Professor, and Department Chair of Live and Physical Science for Ivy Tech. “My favorite feature is the trackpad. It is so much more responsive, and you can have several gestures just from the trackpad that allow you to be more productive."

“As a statewide system, Ivy Tech is excited to have our Muncie campus leading the initial Mac and iPad roll out for this exciting opportunity,” says Matt Etchison, Chief Information Officer of Ivy Tech. “By providing the best tools from Apple for teaching and learning, Ivy Tech is committed to living at the forefront of technology and innovation within the Community College system. This is just the beginning of a tremendous collaboration between Ivy Tech and Apple.”

ABOUT IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Ivy Tech Community College MuncieHenry County is working toward a campus-wide technology upgrade that will provide faculty and students with Apple products and services. As part of its efforts to increase student and community success, the campus will provide MacBooks and iPads to its educators and students, leveraging a common learning platform as part of their student-centered and strengths-focused vision for the MuncieHenry County campus.

“The best technology, along with professional development, and educationcentric apps and resources will help our students receive the maximum benefit from this upgrade," says Emery Peck, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “We can’t wait to see what they accomplish as more of them move from being consumers of content to innovative creators of content."

This technology upgrade will be completed in three phases. To empower their

employees, faculty and staff will receive new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops this fall and, in the spring, will take part in Apple Professional Learning (APL) training. With the faculty and staff being trained in the use of their new Apple devices, they will be able to empower the students to innovate, create, collaborate and perform at their best levels with this world-class technology in the fall of 2023. Students will be provided with iPad and accessories, including Apple Pencil.

“The investment on the part of our campus will allow for exciting educational endeavors, improved tools and resources for faculty and staff, and an increased opportunity to help our students as we reimagine classrooms, communications and curriculum,” says Chancellor Jeffrey Scott.

"Apple products 'just work.' I love how they integrate seamlessly with one another. The look is very similar no matter what device you are using. Most of all I love how long they last. I have a personal MacBook from 2015 that still gets the most recent software

Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns to the needs of the community. The College provides seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a Bachelor’s degree. Follow Ivy Tech on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn for the most up-todate information.

Story & Photography Provided by Ivy Tech Community College

For advertising information, contact:

PUBLISHER

JEFF HERN jeff@townepost.com 317.796.0912

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC.

FOUNDER/CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com 317.496.3599

PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com 317.810.0011 PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC.

8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: 317-810-0011

#SPOTLIGHTINGLOCAL

FOR FRANCHISE INFORMATION, VISIT franchising.townepost.com

ON THE SURFACE

CITY OF MUNCIE TAKES A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO MILLING AND REPAVING LOCAL ROADS

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Amy Payne

When Mayor Dan Ridenour took office in January of 2020, he launched a new program with the Street Department that was, to some, unconventional.

Paving and repairing city streets is an ongoing need for any community. It’s also the subject many elected officials tackle early in their term, resurfacing roads to show progress and action from leadership.

Most municipalities contract the work, spend additional funds and are subject to a contractor’s schedule.

Ridenour took a different approach. “We have roughly 378 miles of streets within the city limits and there have been

challenges since the pandemic, getting enough contractors to do the job,” Ridenour says. “It’s a daunting task and the majority of our streets are residential.”

In addition, Ridenour wasn’t interested in just resurfacing. He wanted to fix structural issues, and completely mill and repave the roads - a process that extends the quality of the roads another 12 to 15 years.

Instead of relying on outside sources, Ridenour and city leaders chose to train Street Department employees and purchase the necessary equipment. While training is ongoing, Ridenour says several small streets have been repaved with success, and the team will continue.

“This is the first time our existing Street

Department employees have had both the equipment and training to pave the streets themselves,” says Michele Owen, director of communications for the City of Muncie. “We’ve done the same thing with concrete.

We have our own sidewalk crew as well.” Not only is the staff working to improve the streets, but they’re having fun with it too.

“We bought the machine and even asked the community to name it,” Ridenour says.

“So, Chewy is our milling machine. We also bought a paver - not one where we could do our largest streets, but this can help with the residential areas.”

According to the mayor, doing this type of

work in-house gets the job done for about half the cost, and Ridenour is hopeful the impact will be substantial.

In addition, staff members with the Street Department can now replace, repair and repave roads at their own discretion.

Employees see the value of the training as well.

“There’s a good career development piece there too,” Owen says. “Skilled laborers have gone up so much in value, and they’re coming along nicely.”

For those who know Ridenour, the big-picture take on day-to-day operations shouldn’t be a surprise. He comes from a financial background and typically thinks in terms of investment.

“We’ve hired an in-house engineer, Adam Leach, which will also save in the long run,” Owen says. “We’ve seen major development, a successful remote-worker program and a lot of positive economic impact. Mayor Ridenour really looks at long-term, quality-of-life investments.”

So far, the new approach has been wellreceived by the community.

“We feel like we’re making a difference in our community and that makes me happy,” Ridenour says. “I hope the citizens are just as happy.”

For more information on current and future projects, visit cityofmuncie.com.

POWER POWER POWER THE POWER OF PRINT

HOW THE LOCAL MAGAZINE NICHE IS THRIVING IN A DIGITAL MEDIA WORLD

in the local print magazine sector - thanks in part to the adoption of digital media.

Traditional media channels have been dramatically impacted over the last couple decades by what is known as the democratization of media. While television and radio networks have been disrupted by streaming services, the hardest hit media happens to be the poster child for the print industry - newspapers. Over the last 10 years, post-recession newspaper revenues are down 67%. However, in an industry that has been called dead by many critics, print is thriving

With the democratization of media also comes the localization, even hyperlocalization of media. This dynamic has created a need – and in turn opportunity – to create a local content aggregation business model that includes print. Thus, the hyper local magazine niche has emerged and thrived in recent years, especially those that have adopted and embraced a digital media strategy.

Writer / Tom Britt

PRINT MARRIES DIGITAL

While the printing process has not changed over the last few decades, the world of publishing digital content changes daily. Small businesses that advertise to support local magazines are turning more and more to Facebook, Google, and digital ad platforms for instant, measurable results.

Meanwhile, print magazines are still on a two-week runway for printing and distribution with little or no way to track response. However, small businesses that leverage print and digital in a local market see a much higher rate of return. When print marries digital in a local market, the response rate increases significantly.

DIGITAL FIRST

Early in 2003, we launched the website for our local community called atGeist.com serving the Geist Reservoir neighborhoods near Indianapolis. We offered free online classifieds, a local event calendar, stories about local students, and homeowners association news. Digital ads were sold at a whopping $30 per month with no promise of impressions.

Nine months later, we published the first print publication and direct mailed to roughly 2,800 homes. Response to our new concept from advertisers and homeowners was exceptional. Not only did we fill a local void that newspapers were creating, we also struck a nerve with small business owners that were trying to attract customers within 3 miles of their front door. We found the combination of web and print to be immensely powerful and local businesses were jumping onboard for the ride.

ALONG COMES SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook has become a primary traffic source for many local publications, leveraging pages to promote local businesses, community events, and stream live video. In many cases, local businesses have forgone websites to dedicate all their digital bandwidth to their Facebook page.

In recent years, Instagram has become a priority amongst local magazines as well. In a white paper entitled Magazine Media 360 published by the Association of Magazine Media, Instagram followers and likes grew 997% from 2014-2019, outpacing Twitter (166%) and Facebook (103%).

Publications today must be relevant every day of the month, not just the day they arrive in the mailbox. Social media, namely Facebook and Instagram, are providing that daily delivery of magazine content.

PRINT IS STILL PREFERRED

Digital media has in most cases replaced the daily paper, but people still yearn for a printed copy to hold and to read. According to the Factbook 2020 report published by the Association of Magazine Media, 73% of adults prefer the feel of a print magazine over digital. Magazine readers are also more receptive to advertising, outperforming websites and TV viewers in the same study.

Picking up a print magazine and thumbing through local stories about your community is a nice break from the blue screens. Paper based reading results in more focused attention, less distractions, and leads to higher comprehension and recall according to neuroscience.

STREAMING VIDEO

Many content providers, including magazines, have turned to video to tell their stories. While we were one of the first magazine networks to incorporate video, we have yet to develop a solid revenue model to support it. In more recent years, we have turned to doing video interviews with our local businesses and then sending the video interview to a writer to produce the print and online story. Consumers want more video, social platforms want more engagement that comes with video, so video will need to be an integral part of any local magazine’s future strategy.

FRANCHISE MODEL TO THE RESCUE

Magazine publishing companies have historically been privately owned, regional businesses. Overhead costs (graphic design, circulation, accounting, rent) and just the fundamental know how of printing and producing magazines creates a natural barrier of entry to get into the local magazine business.

ENTER THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS MODEL

Centralized graphic design and production, back office accounting, online training and support, negotiated print pricing, dedicated USPS support, and many other corporate functions allow local magazine publisher wannabes to set up their territory and launch on a very short runway. Advertisers appreciate the customer support and professionalism of working with an established brand, and franchisees like the ongoing product development to keep the local magazines current.

WHAT’S NEXT

With more and more local content being created every day across all platforms, the need for local portals with accompanying magazines increases. Consumers are far more interested in content that is local to them and they will always value those aggregators that package it up and feed it to them throughout the month. ===========================

Tom Britt is the founder and CEO of the Towne Post Network headquartered in Fishers, Indiana. For franchising information, visit townepost.com.

WILL OF IRON

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photography Provided

Since 1980, the Muncie Endurathon, a 70.3mile race, has brought thousands to the city to compete, and is the longest consecutive triathlon in the state of Indiana.

In 2011, the IRONMAN organization bought the naming rights to the triathlon, furthering the legacy created in Muncie by promoting healthy living, perseverance and accomplishment.

The IRONMAN 70.3 is a famous

triathlon in which athletes complete a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike race, and then a 13.1-mile run before the end of the day. Participants also have the option to compete in the IRONMAN 140.6, twice the distance for each event, which must be completed in 17 hours.

Just last month, three of Muncie’s community leaders participated as an IRONMAN relay team including Prairie Creek Reservoir Supervisor Dustin Clark, City Controller Craig Wright and Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour. They completed

the event in seven hours and nine minutes.

Ridenour, who enjoyed the experience, has been running for years, and participated in 17 full marathons and 24 half marathons prior to joining the 2022 relay.

“It was wonderful,” Ridenour says. “When you have a common goal, challenges are easier to overcome. We’re thrilled that IRONMAN is here. We’ve signed a multiyear contract with them. We want to

MUNCIE CONTINUES TO HOST SUCCESSFUL TRIATHLON COMPETITIONS AFTER MORE THAN 40 YEARS

make sure this continues, and encourage good health and exercise in the community.” Communications Director Michele Owen had completed the IRONMAN 140.6 in Maryland just two weeks prior.

“It’s quite an achievement,” Owen says.

“I have never been an athlete and never played sports. I really went from zero to 70. I had just started running and then a friend encouraged me to participate in a bike race. From there I thought, ‘You might as well learn how to swim,’ and really enjoyed the whole process.”

The team even has an additional staff member ready to join in 2023.

“I thought, ‘This is going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done,’ but it’s such an accomplishment,” Owen says. “There’s really no feeling like it.”

The challenge has brought people together, including community and staff members who volunteered at the event and cheered on their co-workers.

As for Muncie, there’s a sense of pride and excitement surrounding the entire event. “I think so many people are familiar with IRONMAN, but when they see what it entails, that’s a whole other thing,” Owen says. “It’s part of our town’s history and gives so many people a real sense of pride. You can feel the excitement in the city.”

It’s also a large economic boost for the city. During the 2022 IRONMAN event, nearly 1,000 people participated, and more than 5,000 visited the city to support their loved ones.

An estimated $4 million in revenue was gained in hotels, restaurants and additional activities throughout the weekend. “The economic impact is substantial,” Ridenour says. “We appreciate the event and all the people who come out for it. Muncie hosts other triathlons as well and it gives the community a sense of camaraderie.”

Muncie will host the IRONMAN competition next year on September 30. For more information, visit cityofmuncie.com.

Overhead Door Co. of Muncie™

Indeed

Marwin Strong was raised in the small town of Muncie. Growing up, Strong saw firsthand the effects drugs and violence had on the community. After facing his own hardships and struggles, Strong decided to turn his life around and work on helping the community.

When he was younger, Strong went to a party that ended up changing the course of his life. He found himself a victim of poisoning from iodine, which someone had put into his drink.

“When my mother found me, I was in the bathroom having grand mal seizures as iodine was coursing through my body, and that’s the last thing I remember,” Strong says. “Then all I know is that I woke up, and my family said that the doctors came in and told them that I was going to die if I came out of this situation, and that I would be in a vegetative state.”

Strong had two choices - go back to living his old life, or change the way he was living life and start righting his wrongs. At that point in his life, Strong was getting ready to try out for the Charlotte Hornets NBA basketball team. After ending up in the hospital from being drugged at the party, Strong never gave up hope. He went through many stages of therapy, and spent a total of two years in the hospital. The same year he was released, Strong was able to play basketball on a scholarship for the

Writer / Kylee White

Photography Provided by Amy Payne and Marwin Strong

“‘BACK FROM THE SHADOW OF DEATH’ IS BASICALLY A TRUE STORY ABOUT MY LIFE. THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS THAT I’VE BEEN BLESSED TO LIVE AND TELL THIS STORY. MY MESSAGE IS ACHIEVING DREAMS THAT ARE POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.”

- MARWIN STRONG -

University of Massachusetts Boston. He wrote a book, “Back From the Shadow of Death: Fulfilling Life’s Mission With God’s Help,” about his life, and how he found God and turned his life around following his unfortunate incident.

“‘Back From the Shadow of Death’ is basically a true story about my life,” he says. “The good thing about it is that I’ve been blessed to live and tell this story. My message is achieving dreams that are possible for everyone.”

Following the success of his book, Strong has teamed up with The Blue House, an independent film company based in Fishers, Indiana, to create a film based off of his book.

“It’s going to be a more ’90s film,” Strong says. “It’s going to be dynamic. After that,

we are going to have a red-carpet opening in Muncie and I want everyone to come out.”

After the release of the movie, Strong is planning to hit the road and tour several different colleges, to show his movie to the student body and governing officials in the cities he visits.

“The reason why we’re going on tour with this film is because we want to go to a lot of colleges and have them watch this movie,” Strong says. “We will then bring the mayor in of these cities, the governor from these cities, and we are going to have a panel discussion on how to stop drug violence and keep it safe.”

Along with writing his book and being a part of creating his movie, Strong has been able to speak publicly at events and memorials. Earlier this year Strong was

able to meet with the mayor of Muncie and create a declaration proclamation. This means that every year on September 26, Muncie will participate in a candlelight vigil, a balloon release or a community picnic, in honor of those who have lost loved ones to gun violence.

Even after all that Strong has been able to accomplish, he is not done. He is looking forward to releasing two new books. One is a kids book and focuses on peer pressure. The other will be a continuation of his first book. Strong is seeking donations to his GoFundMe page to help with his future projects, and any donation would be greatly appreciated by him.

Go to marwinstrong.com to learn more about Strong and his upcoming movie, his GoFundMe page, and locations to order his book.

POWERED BY POSITIVITY

IVY TECH IS HELPING LOCAL YOUTHS THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING

Writer / Kylee White Photography Provided by Kylee White & Foto Therapy

Duane Clemens Jr. and Wayne Johnson have known each other since 1996. Both played basketball at Ball State, and had a coach who made sure they were out doing services for their community. Now both are working at Ivy Tech Community College in Muncie, and they are working together to get students out into the community and lead them toward positive life paths.

“We’ve seen basically a higher need for community involvement for students who were on the south side, and we felt like we needed to change the narrative around with people who can help,” Johnson says.

Both Clemens and Johnson actively work with Ivy Tech to connect students with opportunities such as starter programs for certain career pathways, and other programs that allow students to be involved with their community. Clemens has been working with Ivy Tech for 13 years, while Clemens

has been involved for four years. Johnson works as the vice chancellor of enrollment, and oversees admissions and financial aid. Clemens also works with admissions, as well as the college connection program. He can be found all over town connecting with students, to show them the pathways they can take outside of high school and middle school.

“This is our attempt to do some goal-setting with the kids, and help them get over the

obstacles and get to those goals,” Johnson says. “Our idea is to partner with them, not tell them what they should be or who they should be - help them be the best version of themselves. It’s not what we think it should be. They have to give some input in that. Of course, selfishly we want Ivy Tech to be a part of that narrative because there are really good positions here in the city now.”

As part of their work to help people in their community, Clemens and Johnson

hosted an event for men aged 18 to 86, and included breakout sessions on topics like how to tie a tie and professional etiquette. They want to do another conference, adding more topics to teach male youths.

“Now we’re talking about doing something similar this year, and adding different subjects such as how to change oil and basic necessities that they aren’t really learning and don’t have access to,” Clemens says.

Even with all the work they’ve done, Clemens and Johnson aren’t finished. They want to continue reaching out and helping more and more students. By partnering with Ivy Tech, they can work with others to increase the number of students they are able to reach.

“It’s going to take all hands,” Johnson says. “This is not a one-stop shop. This is definitely something sustainable for us. This is something we want to be a part of through Ivy Tech, and we just want to see these young fellas and young ladies do better. There are plenty of people doing amazing things right here in town, and not too far from the town. We’re just an avenue to show them what it looks like.”

Clemens and Johnson have worked with Ivy Tech’s Dream Maker series, to provide youths with possibilities for their future and the community. They’ll offer a career exploration class that will begin with eighth graders.

“In the spring we’ll be able to give that class to all the eighth graders,” Johnson says. “There will be four-week blocks on Fridays. We’ll be able to deliver that information. That’s how we will connect the mentoring conversation with the big picture for every eighth grader. Then for those who are interested, we will funnel them into teamwork programs, or into youth empowerment programs to keep them interested throughout the summers.”

Both Clemens and Johnson have a strong dedication to giving back to the community. They have been able to reach out to several individuals, and show them a possible way of life that can lead to a better future.

“Really both of us have a passion for giving back to kids, because we both wouldn’t be here without people pouring into us, for sure,” Johnson says. “This is just our time to do that.”

Writer / Ryan Kennedy Photography Provided

THE

OF THE HOOSIERS

Legendary radio broadcaster Don Fischer begins his 50th year as the radio voice of Indiana University football and basketball this season, but he almost didn’t make it through his first game.

“To tell you how much of a fool I was the first game that I did for IU, because I was from Illinois and I’d always heard ‘the University of Illinois’ - I wasn’t even thinking about Indiana University, and that would be the only thing you could call it because obviously that’s what Indiana University is,” Fischer says. “They don’t want to be called University of Indiana three times in the first half of the

first game that I did for IU. I called them the University of Indiana, and the phones at our radio station lit up like a Christmas tree. It was that bad. I thought, ‘There’s a chance I might get fired after my first gig here.’”

A native of Rochelle, Illinois, Fischer, by his own admission, wasn’t a great student. It’s not that he wasn’t smart - he just didn’t like school. College was out of the question. After he graduated from high school, Fischer wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life. He had several jobs. In the eight months after graduation, Fischer says he worked five different jobs. Finally, he got a job as a ticket clerk for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in Mendota,

One night, about seven months into working for the railroad, Fischer was flipping through a Sport magazine during a break at the depot when he saw a full-page ad for a home correspondence course from a broadcast school out of Wisconsin. “I looked at that and I went, ‘You know what? I may not have been a great athlete, but I got to play a lot of sports from the time I was about 8 years old on up, and I think I can become a sportscaster,’” Fischer says. He signed up. Records of the lessons, a workbook and a tape recorder arrived in the mail, and Fischer’s journey to becoming a legendary play-by-play announcer began.

Fischer got his first job in radio at a small station in Butte, Montana. Fischer heard from a friend who’d already gone out there that the station was hiring. Despite being only halfway through his correspondence course, Fischer sent the station one of his tapes. The station called him a week later. “They said, ‘If you can get to Butte, Montana, for an interview, there’s a good chance we can hire you,’” Fischer says. He took a 48-hour train ride to interview for the position. A week later they hired him.

In Butte, Fischer worked the night shift as both a radio DJ and the station’s janitor. He worked there for about 15 months. Fischer returned to his home state, where he got his first shot at doing playby-play, calling games for local high schools in Ottawa, Illinois. From there, he got a job at a radio station in Terre Haute, Indiana. Fischer says he called 175 games per year at every level of sport. “We did football, basketball, baseball, Babe Ruth baseball,” he says. “We did softball games. I was doing play-by-play almost every night of the week.” He was even calling junior football games out of the

back of a pickup truck, with a blind color analyst. “It got me rolling as far as my play-by-play career was concerned, and I just had a great time with it,” he says.

When Indiana University granted exclusive broadcast rights to WIRE radio station in Indianapolis, Fischer got a call from a friend telling him that the station was looking for someone to call play-byplay for IU football and basketball games. Fischer, along with 270 other hopefuls, sent the station a tape and a resume. A few weeks later he got a call to interview for the job. Soon after, he was named the first official voice of Indiana University football and basketball, a title he still holds five decades later.

Fischer has broadcast more than 2,100 Indiana University games. Included in that number are 12 bowl games, five NCAA basketball Final Fours, four NCAA championship games and two NIT championship games. He’s won Indiana Sportscaster of the Year 27 times by the National Sports Media Association, and four times by the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. He was inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2010. Indiana University awarded him the J.W. Bill Orwig Medal, an award given to non-alumni for distinguished service to the university.

When Fischer started calling IU games, they were broadcast over a telephone line. Now, everything sounds like it’s recorded in a studio. “It’s just a totally different business than when I started out, but the truth of the matter is, the games haven’t changed that much,” he says. “Style plays and things like that change a lot over the years, but the game itself is still football. The game itself is still basketball, and from that perspective, that much has not changed. That’s why I love

Illinois. He worked the night shift.

doing what I do, because I’ve been able to do my style of football and basketball broadcasts for the last 50 years.”

Fischer says he developed his style listening to the likes of the Chicago Cubs’ Harry Caray and the St. Louis Blues’ Dan Kelly. Much like an athlete watching tape of a previous game, Fischer listens to his broadcasts, noting what he did well and what needs improving. He pays special attention to make sure he’s not repeating himself. Play-by-play is spontaneous. Fischer doesn’t think about what he’s saying while he’s saying it, but he takes care to avoid using the same terminology for certain types of plays.

Preparation is key. Fischer reads everything he can get his hands on leading up to a game. He learns about storylines and stats, as well as stars for opposing teams and how they’re playing. He talks to sports information directors to get the correct pronunciations of players’ names. All of this is in the service of providing the audience with an objective, informative and entertaining listening experience. “It boils down to just knowing your product, being prepared to utilize the experience that you have, and you get into a groove with it,” he says. “Once you get into it, it’s not that difficult at all, but it takes a while.”

Fischer’s voice is the soundtrack to some major moments, not just in Indiana University history, but also in the history of college sports. Fischer says he doesn’t have a favorite call, but the 1976 national

championship basketball game, when Indiana University won the title to finish the season undefeated, holds a special place in his heart. “It was emotional for me,” he says. “I was 29 years old at the time, getting the job when I was 26 here. I had tears running down my cheeks. It was so emotional in that sense. I don’t think you could tell that I was bubbling up with tears on the radio, but it was just a fun thing to be a part of. It’s always been a vivid memory for me.”

Fischer claims his memory isn’t as good as it used to be, as he breaks down Keith Smart’s famous game-winning jump shot with six seconds to go in the 1987 NCAA national title basketball game, and recalls the wind changing directions in the third quarter of IU football’s win over the University of Michigan that same year. “I’ve had so many opportunities to call some broadcasts that turned out to be kind of historical performances, so I can’t pick out just one,” he says.

Even after 2,100 games, Fischer says he still gets nervous before the season starts. He compares it to the butterflies athletes get before they play in a game. He says he goes into every season optimistic, even if a team is coming off a disappointing year. “That’s certainly the way I feel this year too,” he says. “So my 50th year doesn’t feel a great deal different than it did back in 1973 when I started in Indiana.”

BROTHERHOOD DESIGNS

INDIANA FIREFIGHTERS START UNIQUE BUSINESS

It can sometimes be difficult to show patriotism in a way that is creative and tells a story. That’s where Brotherhood Designs comes in.

Brotherhood Designs was started by Rob Demlow and Scott Carr, two Firefighter EMTs. The startup of their business was unintentional when they made their first flag as a project in their station, but ended up turning into something bigger.

“We never thought last year that we would start a business until we started seeing that people felt like they wanted to display one of these in their homes or their businesses,” Demlow says. “We had no intention of starting a business in January of this year. But In February we started scrambling and thought, ’Well let’s just try this’ and it basically turned out to be more of a success than we would have ever thought.”

Carr and Demlow are both a part of the Fishers Fire Department, Demlow for 17 years and Carr for 23. Both feel that displaying patriotism is important to them.

“I think our goals are that any place that feels like they’d like to display their patriotism and have a neat and different piece of art on their wall, our goal is to match what the customer wants,” Demlow says. “It’s a unique thing to display. What we’re finding is that it kind of creates a good buzz within their community. If it’s in a home say you have a family gathering, we’re trying to create some good buzz about patriotism really.”

Their flags are created out of retired hoses they receive from surrounding Fire Stations. Each year most departments test all of the hoses at their stations and discard the ones that are damaged one way or another. Carr and Demlow look at this as another way to share stories through their art.

“We like to say that pretty much every hose has a story,” Demlow

Writer & Photographer Kylee White

Rob Demlow (left) and Scott Carr (right) presented one of their first retired fire hose flags to country music legend John Rich (middle) which is on display at his Nashville, Tennessee bar - Redneck Riviera.

says. “Each hose is going to be unique, which means every flag is going to be unique. There’s going to be rips and tears and stuff like that. When we’re putting them together they become a story that maybe isn’t verbal but it’s showing where it’s been.”

“The more damage to the hose shows more of the life of that fire hose and what it’s been through creates a bigger buzz around each flag that we do because we were able to show that,” Carr adds.

Currently, Brotherhood Designs have flags placed around the Fishers area, as well as some surrounding states as well. They can be found in Nashville TN, Southern California, and they are shipping out a flag right outside of New Orleans in Louisiana as well.

To learn more about Brotherhood Designs visit brotherhooddesigns. net or visit them on their Facebook and Instagram at Brotherhood Designs, LLC.

Brotherhood Designs partnered with the Fire Foundation, donating one of their retired fire hose art pieces to a live auction hosted at the FoxGardin Family Anniversary party. Their donation netted the Fire Foundation $5,000.